1937 Model 18 Norton - For sale

 

-JdK- John in the UK has a Model 18 for sale, in his own words: "My 1937 Model 18 Norton is for sale. It has its original factory engine/frame number pairing and a NOC dating certificate. Magneto rebuilt and carb body sleeved, so runs beautifully. New tyres.

She had one owner until 1988, at which point she was somehow discovered languishing in a garden shed both intact and very original. The second owner waited and then commissioned a professional restoration in 1997 during which the original registration number was reclaimed from DVLA. He then used her little. There are numerous photos taken before, during and after the restoration.

I bought her from the 2nd owner in Summer 2021 and have enjoyed recommissioning her - usual stuff - magneto, carb etc. I have the original push/pull fuel taps, copper fuel lines, exhaust down pipe and straight gear lever - these will be included. Even the wheel rims are the original dunlops which have been rechromed and painted, and the silencer is the rechromed original.

An amazing bike. I am looking for £12,000 firm. In the first instance, I can be contacted via email on howellhouse@talktalk.net"

John Wilkinson and Stan's Norton ...

 

-SG- Grateful to well known Velo authority Ivan Rhodes for giving me the OK to post his photo of the late (and very successful) John Wilkinson on Stan Johnson's  1937 OHC Norton.  As far as I recall - despite the fact that it may look like a Model 30 - it was in fact a Stan creation using a '37-ish ES2 frame. This had the advantage of using a 19 inch rims as standard and thus readily available racing tyres of the sixties would fit with no problem. Some time after Stan's death, the bike finished up with an enthusiast in Basingstoke but what has become of it now, I do not know.

... and more photo's taken at the same event provided by Pierre below. Pics were made by Christian Olivaux.

Jimmy Guthrie. 1937 Assen TT

-JdK- Jimmy at the start of the 500cc, discussing with Freddy Frith. Karl Gall and his BMW on the left. Guthrie retired, Karl won the race.

Jimmie G.

-JdK- Finally a book on one of the greatest motorcycle racing champions, Jimmy Guthrie. The author -Paul Guthrie, not a relative - goes to great lengths to discuss Jimmie's life from the moment he was born to his tragic death resulting from a crash on the last lap of the German Motorcycle Grand Prix on the 8th of August 1937.

Jimmie's machine after the crash

Motorcycling racing in the 1930s and especially in Nazi Germany is discussed in great detail. The relevance of all this is that Jimmie's death has always been shrouded in mysteries. Despite thousands of security guards, track stewards and spectators no one came forward to explain what exactly had happened. There must have been thousands of photo's taken, yet none of the accident exists and only one photo of the crashed machine has surfaced.

The crash site

Paul systematically discusses all the theories including rider error and technical failures - and while we can never be sure the most likely explanation is that Jimmie crashed due to interference by a German rider, Kurt Mansfeld.

If a German rider had caused the crash, the incident would have become a geopolitical disaster and a threat to the reputation of the Third Reich. Political tensions were high between Germany and Britain on the 8th of August 1937 and Paul suggests that it was in the interest of both sides to be vague about the reason of the crash.

Anyway, read the book and decide for yourself; highly recommended!

Another review of this book can be found via this link.

Castrol advertising - Freddy Frith 1937

-SG- Over the weekend, I picked up a (somewhat expensive!) postcard at the Winchester (UK!) Antiques Market.  A scan of both sides is attached and I guess it was a small part of Castrol's 1937 advertising activities.  Incidentally, Freddy also put in the fastest lap in the Senior at 90.27 mph and Norton team-mate 'Crasher' White finished third. Stanley Woods, by then Velocette mounted, was second, a mere 15 seconds behind Frith.

c1937 Model 18 Nortons

-JdK- We have had Spanish Nortons on the site before and here's another set. Most probably Republicans, somewhere at the end of the 1930s. The Nortons are c1937 Model 18s. Note there are also other motorcycles, BSA, Velocette and Royal Enfield.

For those interested, the text on the wall reads: "The physical, moral and cultural improvement of the race will be the primary and basic concern of the state".

The pics come from Biblioteca Valenciana. Thanks Olav!

The 1937 brochure

-SG- Thanks again to Ian, here's the 1937 'Unapproachable' brochure covering 1936 successes and the 1937 range.  This was the final year for the parallel pushrod tube OHV engines - a concept dating back to 1930 - while the '37 16H was very close in most respects to the later WD 16H.

A DOHC Norton from 1937 ...

-SG- Several months ago David Crawford (author of the Stanley Woods biography) sent various photos of a restored 1937 racing spec. Model 30 belonging to Harry Turner, a late friend in Northern Ireland. These were taken, I believe, nearly thirty-five years back and show the very presentable machine, which is unusual in that it has DOHC valve operation. Richard's view is that the cambox was probably a post war fitment but it is difficult to be sure as the bike disappeared after the owner's death in 1988 or '89, and has not been seen since.

Where is it now?  Any news or ideas welcome!

1937 Model 30 Norton

-SG- Circumstances prevented my attendance at the recent Pukekohe Classic Race meeting in NZ but Artie was there - for the 38th time - and sent me a couple of photos of Inia's recently restored 1937 International. This started as a very sad wreck - even the frame tubes needing replacement - and the bulk of the work was carried out by Ken McIntosh. The power unit is one Artie used and developed in his own Manx for some forty years. The bike was ridden briefly at the meeting by Lyndsey Kyle - I say 'briefly' as Lyndsey was unlucky enough to have an 'off' although the bike was undamaged apart from a footrest and the doll's head gearchange.

16H and Big Four Norton Service Series

Click this link for the PDF

-SG- It's no great secret that the WD 16H is - give or take a few details - the same as the 1937 production  version.  Motor Cycling produced a couple of articles about maintenance and overhaul back in 1954 and these are attached for reference.

Freddie Frith, 1937

-SG- Here's a good shot of Frith and his 1937 Junior TT mount - he finished second to Jimmy Guthrie. The detachable silencer insert in the megaphone was a nod to the authorities for legal riding on open roads! The DOHC engine and massive front brake are clearly to be seen.

... and here's the great man in action in the 1937 Junior TT at Quarter Bridge on - I assume -  the same machine!

Maurice Cann, 1937 Model 40 Norton

-Dennis- Looking through some of my photos I came across this Fox Photo. Text says: "Maurice Cann (Norton) winner of the Junior MGP on Tuesday won the Senior MGP yesterday, Sept. 10th 1937. Sir Montague Butler accompanied by Lady Butler congratulate the winner M.Cann after the race." Guess Butler was the governor of the IOM at the time?

c1937 Model 18 Norton

Eric in the UK sent these photo's. "Above is our Dad (we think) and if the date is right (1938) he would have been about 20 years old. Below is one of him and my Mum. Dad and Mum (Eric and Hannah Anderson) were married in 1940". The Norton is a c1937 Model 18.